Vision loss is not a normal part of aging, but older adults are more likely to develop certain eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). As the United States’ population ages, it’s critical to spread the word about ways to prevent vision loss in older adults. Learn more about healthy aging month!
Healthy Aging Month
Join us along with the National Eye Health Education Program (NEHEP) this Healthy Aging Month to help raise awareness about eye health and aging. Inform people in your community about how they can protect their vision as they age.
Learn More About Age-related Macular Degeneration:
Coping with AMD and vision loss can be frightening. This is especially true if you have recently started to lose vision or have low vision. Low vision means that even with regular glasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery, daily tasks are difficult to complete. Reading the mail, going shopping, cooking, and writing can all appear difficult.
However, assistance is available. Although you may not be able to restore your vision, low vision services can help you make the most of what you have. You can continue to enjoy your friends, family, hobbies, and other interests as you have in the past. The key is to use these services as soon as possible.
Learn More About Diabetic Eye Disease
Did you know that diabetes can cause eye disease? If left untreated, it can cause vision loss or even blindness. To help you keep your vision healthy, here are five things the National Eye Institute (NEI) would like you to know about diabetic
eye disease:
- A group of eye problems— People with diabetes may face several eye problems as a complication of this disease. They include cataract, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy, which is the leading cause of blindness in American adults age 20–74.
- In its early stages, diabetic retinopathy has no symptoms. A person may not notice vision changes until the disease advances. Blurred vision may occur when the macula swells from the leaking fluid (called macular edema). If new vessels have grown on the surface of the retina, they can bleed into the eye, blocking vision.
- Anyone with diabetes is at risk of getting diabetic retinopathy. The longer someone has diabetes, the more likely he or she will get this eye disease. In fact, between 40 and 45 percent of those with diagnosed diabetes have some degree of diabetic retinopathy.
- Stay on TRACK— That is: Take your medications as prescribed by your doctor; Reach and maintain a healthy weight; Add more physical activity to your daily routine; Control your ABC’s—A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels; and Kick the smoking habit.
- Get a dilated eye exam— If you have diabetes, be sure to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. Diabetic eye disease can be detected early and treated before noticeable vision loss occurs.
Learn More About the Aging Eye
Since your 40s, you have probably noticed that you needed glasses to see up close. You may have more trouble adjusting to glare or distinguishing some colors, particularly shades of blue and green. These changes are a normal part of aging.They alone cannot stop you from enjoying an active lifestyle. They will not stop you from maintaining your independence. In fact, you can live an active life well into your golden years without ever experiencing severe vision loss.
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For more information, info graphics and fact sheets to read and share more details click here National Eye Institute
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Source:National Eye Institute
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